Tri-Nations Match 6
Australian Kangaroos 33 d. Great Britain Lions 10

2006 Tri-Nations Test Series Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats]

Location: International > Nations > First Grade Competition: Tri-Nations Test Series

Australia too good for Great Britain
Sun November 19, 2006
Australia has finished four points clear at the top of the Tri Nations table after out classing Great Britain 33-10 in front of 44,358 fans at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium. It was the biggest Test attendance in Australia since the 3rd Test of the 1974 Ashes series when Graeme Langlands was captain of Australia in his final Test swansong.

Great Britain had no answer to the Australian onslaught and it was effectively game over after seven minutes when Australia raced in two tries through Justin Hodges from a brilliant Darren Lockyer grubber kick and moments later Lockyer created the hole for Mark Gasnier to get on the outside of his opponent to score. Johnathan Thurston converted both tries for an early 12-0 lead.

To their credit Great Britain hung in there and the match started to change when James Roby and Adrian Morley came onto the field. Danny McGuire scored an opportunists try when Lee Gilmour had the ball stripped out by Thurston and McGuire toed it ahead and regathered to score the try. Australia immediately struck back when Lockyer offloaded on the last to Mark O'Meley who gave a nice ball for Karmichael Hunt to score. Thurston again converted with Australia leading 18-4, which remained that way until half-time.

Great Britain got off to the worst start possible in the second half when Paul Wellens kicked off out on the full and Australia with possession on the line scored again through Lockyer to make it 22-4 with Thurston unable to convert.

The Lions mounted a spirited comeback and scored a fine try when Gareth Hock produced a miracle offload for Keith Senior to charge onto for the try. Wellens converted and Great Britain were back with a faint hope needing two converted tries in the final 20 minutes to qualify for the Final.

Lockyer put the result beyond doubt with a drop goal in the final 10 minutes and Anthony Tupou rubbed salt into the wounds when he charged onto a Thurston pass from close to the line for his first Test try.

Australia had the last say on the match when Great Britain threw and kicked it around at the end only to end up with Nathan Hindmarsh who linked up with Lockyer and later Cameron Smith for Hunt to find space and he kicked it across field where Brent Tate was on his own and scored despite a great desperate chase from Gareth Ellis. It was a fantastic try and showcased just how skilful and outstanding the Australian Rugby League team is and how wide the gap is between the NRL and Super League.

Tate's try at the end was certainly appreciated by the 44,358 in attendance and that figure puts absolute serious shame on the Sydney-siders who could only attract just over 24,000 for a similar fixture two weeks ago when apparently Sydney is the heartland, hub, centre and universe of Rugby League. Has the tide of support changed? Full credit to the Queenslander's for supporting Rugby League in such commanding fashion. The game is there on a platter for those in Sydney and everything the NRL does from corporate decisions, TV deals and in particular radio deals are only catered for Sydney - yet it's areas outside of Sydney that are supporting Rugby League and keeping our great game vibrant.

Is Queensland the representative home for Australian Rugby League and where the majority of rep fixtures in Australia should be scheduled except for Sydney's one token Origin match?

Great Britain has to go back to the drawing board and their second successive Tri Nations disaster as well as the horrendous Final in 2004 needs to see the Super League competition receive a serious shake up and the culture and structure of the game has to change over there. The Lions were simply out classed in all facets of the game and the selections of Brian Noble were a disaster. Leaving Lee Briers back in the UK and the selections of Terry Newton, Martin Gleeson, Sean O'Loughlin and Richard Horne leave a lot to be desired. Great Britain's performances weren't helped with the departure of Sean Long that pretty much had nothing to do with personal reasons and the woeful performances by McGuire and Stuart Fielden. Both players came to Australia with plenty of hype and return flat out being reserve grade standard.

A few positives came out of the Tri Nations for Great Britain. The performances of Jamie Peacock has lifted him to world class, Hock and Roby came of age as footballers, Gareth Raynor showed promise on the wing with some comparing to former Lions flyer Des Drummond, Wellens was courage under fire and Leon Pryce showed he has plenty of ability.

Australia are now into the Final and will head into the Sydney clash as very warm favourites against New Zealand who they have defeated on three occasions this year including two of them very easily and the other in a comeback - but they always had the class the Kiwis didn't have.

It should be an interesting Final with the Australians backline and halves up against the Kiwis brute forward pack steered around by the great Stacey Jones.

However, will the Sydney-siders be bothered to turn up to such a great clash? Hopefully yes, but Sydney Rugby League history says a defiant no.


Horne new Great Britain halfback
Thu November 16, 2006
Hull FC's Richard Horne has been handed the halfback duties for Saturday's important Tri Nations clash against Australia with Sean Long flying back home to England due to reasons that are still a mystery.

Horne enjoyed a fantastic season for the Humberside club as they made the Super League Grand Final and he equalled the club record Jack Harrison held in 1914-15 of scoring tries in 11 successive matches this year.

After his selection, Horne said, "I've been waiting a long time to get my opportunity and I'm looking forward to it.

"Sean is a big loss. But these things happen, and you've just got to get on with it and put it behind you and focus on what the team is now.''

Lock Sean O'Loughlin will return to the starting line-up after missing Saturday's 34-4 loss to the Kiwis. O'Loughlin was a late withdrawal from the defeat in Wellington with a leg strain. He returns to his regular position at the back of the scrum - which sees captain Jamie Peacock move back to the front row from the second row where he was forced to cover last week.

Centre Martin Gleeson also comes into the side at the expense of Kirk Yeaman, who has been named among the replacements.

Winger Brian Carney is still out with a hamstring injury as Leon Pryce has been named on the flanks and the under-achieving Danny McGuire remains at stand-off.

The out of form Terry Newton has been retained at hooker with calls for James Roby to be promoted to the dummy half position.

Head coach Brian Noble has also named youngster Garreth Carvell on a seven-man bench alongside Rob Burrow, with three players expected to be omitted later in the week. Adrian Morley and Roby are two of the players expected to be named with the other two coming out of Carvell, Burrow, Jon Wilkin, Lee Gilmour and Yeaman.

GILLETTE TRI-NATIONS
AUSTRALIA v GREAT BRITAIN
Saturday, 18 November 2006
At Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick Off: 8pm (Brisbane), 9pm (Sydney/Canberra), 10am (GMT)
Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au

Wed November 15, 2006
• In Touch: Australia v Great Britain
  
Tue November 14, 2006
• Thurston, Hodges and Ryan recalled, Tupou retained
  

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